07/02/2026
JULY 16 @ 10:00 AM
Our River Stories: The Gila and the Salt
Goodyear City Hall Chambers
Join us for artistically presented stories that share the history of water and the River People, over a 2,000 year period.
FREE EVENT
Join Zarco Guerrero for a series of stories that share the vibrant and tragic history of water and the River People, over a 2,000 year period. Beginning with the Toltec trade route that brought agriculture and corn to the Southwest. The history of the O’Odham before and after the expansion west is revealed. We learn about the Yaqui Indians who fled persecution and found refuge in Arizona rebuilding the ancient canal system. A descendant of the first Mormon settlers tells his families’ story of finding an oasis in the desert given to them by God and their determination to tame the mighty Salt River. Our story culminates when an endearing elderly woman shares the hope that there still is to protect our water resources and to right the wrongs committed against the land and its River People.
As a sculptor, muralist, storyteller and performance artist Zarco has dedicated his career to creating positive social change through the arts. Born in Arizona, he has been instrumental in the development of Latino Arts statewide. His art has been exhibited in Mexico and throughout the United States. He has received international acclaim, and awards, such as a National Endowment for the Arts Japan Fellowship, a Governor’s Arts Award, a Zony Award, became the Southwest Folklife Alliance Master Artist, and has been awarded grants for artistic projects by The Doris Duke Foundation, Valley Metro and Arizona Community Foundation.
This program is made possible by Arizona Humanities and is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts through its America250 initiative. The program is also sponsored in part by APS.
Goodyear City Hall Chambers
1900 N Civic Sq, Goodyear 85395
The Heritage Lecture Series is sponsored in part by APS
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992772905404?aff=oddtdtcreator
